Avila University gets largest gift in its history

Avila University has received the largest single gift in the school’s 100-year history, a $3.5 million donation to support construction of a new Goppert Performing Arts Center.

Avila will officially announce the gift from the estate of Vita Goppert, Avila’s first lay female board member, at 7 p.m. Thursday, prior to the opening night performance at the school of Monty Python’s “Spamalot.”

Renderings for a new $8 million Goppert Performing Arts Center will be unveiled at the VIP reception before the performance. Fundraising is underway to cover the remaining cost of the new building.

The new arts center will provide additional performance spaces, classrooms, rehearsal areas, equipment and technology. In addition, a black-box theater will provide performance space for Theatre for Young America, which has had a 12-year partnership with the university.